Career Searching - What Is the Difference Between Jobs and Careers?

Career searching is the term I apply to actively pursuing a career position rather than looking for a job.

I can't tell you how many times I would interview someone, and when I would ask what they are looking for in a job, they would reply, "I'm not looking for a job. I'm looking for a career."

And while I can appreciate the intentions of an applicant with this response, I need to stop to tell you how wrong this is - to the recruiter with whom you are speaking, but more importantly, how much this will hinder your job search.

Let me explain the difference:

A job is something a company offers you.
A career is something you build in an industry.

There is no such thing as a career position.

To emphasize this point, here is the definition for "career" according to Webster's dictionary:

a person's progress or general course of action through life or through a phase of life, as in some profession or undertaking

I might describe my career thus far as being a "recruiter," but please understand I am not saying that simply because a company hired me to be a recruiter. In order to satisfy having a career, you need to meet three specific qualifications:

You have spent a significant numbers of years learning a particular industry.
You have specialized skills making you valuable in that industry.
You have a proven track record of success in that particular industry.

Examine those qualifications carefully. These qualifications are determined based on one thing - you! You can choose the career path you want to take, but understand that building a career is the sum total of your own efforts. No company can simply award you a career.

I remember interviewing an entry level applicant several years ago who was presently working for McDonald's. When I asked him why he wanted to leave, he explained that McDonald's was just a job - he wanted a career.

While I understand that this example is the essence of reduction to ridiculous, McDonald's is one of the greatest providers of career opportunities worldwide. You can grow from an entry level role into all different directions including Human Resources, Accounting, Operations & Logistics, Marketing, and more... ! In fact, McDonald's will from time-to-time take exceptional candidates and pay internally for additional training to advance their skill sets. In time, they too may advance in their career of choice - and it is the hope of McDonald's that those skill sets will be applied internally.

Again, I emphasize the importance of understanding that a job is something you can get. A career is something you must build. The reason why this is so important is because millions of people are searching Google every month for a "career" - and I'm sorry to say - you will never find one just by looking. Yes, you may find many companies wanting career-minded individuals, or who may offer career advancement opportunities, but at the end of the day you are applying for a job.

That being said, if you wish to begin building a career in a particular industry, you will need to do three things:

Decide in which industry you would like to develop your career.
Look at what different career paths are available in that industry.
Plan to acquire some specialized training in that industry, whether through formal education, apprenticeship, a mentor program, promote-from-within, etc.

For example, let's say you decide that Business is your industry of choice. Next, you look at available career paths and decide that Marketing is where you are the most interested. The next step would be to look at how you can begin to learn more about marketing, whether that be through an internship or going to college.

Now - and only now - are you ready to begin acquiring some experience in this particular industry. Believe me - you are more than likely going to begin in a very entry Sales level role to really understand Marketing from the ground up. And that is okay. It takes time to build a career.

My first experience in interviewing was a completely unpaid internship. And I spent hours a week interviewing, watching other people interviewing, taking notes on interviewing techniques, reviewing resumes, calling references, etc. The more I could get my feet wet and collect experience, I knew the better prepared I would be to grow in my chosen career - and ultimately the more marketable I would become to other employers within that industry.

So the next time you are thinking of cutting to the front of the line by just looking for a career, think again. You need to look for a job first. Jobs are the only things that companies can offer you. But those jobs, in turn, become stepping stones. They are the vehicle to help you build the career you truly desire.

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Brent Jones lives in Toronto, Canada and spent the majority of his professional career in recruiting and sales. He currently offers job-seekers advice through his blog.

He is also the author of the successful report '7 Fatal Mistakes Made by Most Job Applicants.' It is available for free download by clicking here.

Is There a Difference Between a Job and a Career?

So, you've decided that now is the right time to get a new career or pursue that new job. What language do you use to describe your work habits? How do you think and speak about what you get paid for? Do you use 'my career is'? Or 'my job is'?

Do you think of yourself as 'career orientated' or 'career minded'? Perhaps, do you see a career is something that comes with having a string of qualifications? Is 'having a career' something better than 'having a job'? Or are they same?

Generally, people assume the two are different. They are, by definition, however can they be separated in reality? One of the biggest differences between having a job and having a career could be that of attitude and thought. Please, before you jump and down and list your qualifications carry on reading... You see there is so much ambiguity, ideas and lies around careers and jobs for example:

A job does not include a career but a career usually involves many jobs A job is a means to an end; a career is more personally fulfilling A job is lower paid than a career role A career is harder to achieve than getting a job A career obviously involves many qualifications, having a career is very specialised
So, can you have a well thought out career that pays well: full of advancement, progression and promotional opportunities. Yet you detest it. No, you loathe it. You cry going in and are depressed after your holidays.

Well, you are working a job. You are working to pay the bills. Your career does not fit your passion and purpose.

On the other hand. Say, you call what you get paid for a job. It may not have taken you years of qualifications to get there; it might not be well paid however it is lucrative in other ways. You love it. Everything about it. The tasks. The people. The day-to-day role. The customers. Even though you may not think about it this way yet, you have a career.

Do you need some definitions? Okay...

Career: A chosen pursuit, occupation or profession. Job: A task, or series of tasks you get paid for.

Please focus on the word CHOSEN. So, whatever you have chosen to do. That's a career.

The job element is the tasks you undertake within that career. People who have a career, also have a job, otherwise they would not have a career. They get paid for carrying out tasks (jobs) that fit the career choice. People who have jobs are still within a career choice.

A career is a path, full of choices, using your full skills, talents and experiences. The path is not 'job' or 'tasks' yet it is made up of a lifelong journey that fully utilises your strengths and talents. It encompasses your leisure, family, relationships; it's made up of all the parts of you. The fact you get paid for this is the job element.

So is there a difference in career versus job? Yes, by definition. The jobs we carry out may be better to sit in alignment with our career journey: the roads we are choosing that sit well with us emotionally will ensure that we are working on tasks that are following our passion and purpose in our career planning, job hunting and career changes.

© 2009 Dawn Barclay - All rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Dawn is a professional trainer and coach, for the past 16 years she has been assisting others to reach their goals and achieve success professionally and personally.

Dawn is on a crusade to ensure that you (if you want it) have the right to live your best life and achieve your own definition of success.

To learn more about Dawn's services, resources, products and to receive a complimentary copy of her newsletter please visit http://www.dawnbarclay.com